Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole (Printable)
Creamy chicken casserole with spinach, artichokes, and three cheeses. High protein, gluten-free, ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
02 - 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
04 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Vegetables
05 - 7 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
06 - 14 oz canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
07 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy & Sauces
09 - 1/2 cup light cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
→ Seasonings
11 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
→ Topping
15 - 1/3 cup gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
16 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
17 - Olive oil spray
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
02 - Heat a splash of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add diced chicken to the skillet. Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is just cooked through. Remove from heat.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix until smooth.
05 - Fold in the cooked chicken, thawed spinach, and chopped artichoke hearts. Mix until evenly distributed.
06 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish.
07 - In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp Parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole. Lightly mist with olive oil spray.
08 - Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
09 - Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Each serving packs 45 grams of protein without that heavy, overly full feeling that often comes with comfort food
- The combination of spinach and artichokes feels sophisticated but comes together in under an hour
02 -
- Squeezing every last drop of water from the thawed spinach is the step that makes the difference between a firm casserole and a watery one
- The casserole might look jiggly when you first pull it out but it firms up beautifully during the resting period
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly and prevent a grainy texture in your sauce
- Let the chicken mixture cool slightly before combining with the cheese mixture so the sauces don't separate